Aeroplane



March 9 1926', 1,576,342

F. MOELHANEY AEROPLANE Filed August 15, 1925 3 heets-Sheet 1 EanZMT/Zaan ey ATTORNEY March 9 1926.

F. M ELHANEY Filed August 15 .1925

s Sheets-Shet 2 Z ranlfM 'El ymvEmR ATTORNEY March 9 1926. 4 x F. MOELHANEY AEROPLANE Filed August 15 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR paxML W EZ/z aney AITORN EY WITNESS:

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Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT ores.

FRANK MoELI-IANEY, F MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA.

AEROPLANE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK llloEnni-wrr. a citizen of the United States, residing at Morgantown, in the county of Monongalia and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aer'oplanes, of which the following is a. specification.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for controlling the vertical rudder of an aeroplane, for controlling the horizontal rudder, and for controlling the elevation of the machine with reference to a vertical shaft mounting the ground wheel and also mounting an additional vane or rudder.

A further object is to provide locking means for use with one of the controlling devices.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lln the drawings forming part of this application:

Figure l is a view of the machine in side elevation.

Figure'2 is a View in elevation and longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-45 of Figure 2 showing in top plan mechanism A. for controlling the vertical elevation of the entire machine with reference to a rear lower ground Wheel; showing at B mechanism for controlling the vertical rudders; and further illustrating at C mechanism for controlling a horizontal rudder.

Figure d is a side elevation of the structure of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig ure 4:.

Figure 6 is a view on line 6-45 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7--7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner of mounting three controllin levers adapted to operate the devices A, and C of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is asection on line 9-9 of Fig ure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail view of the locking mechanism for the structure shown at A in Figure 8.

The upper and lower planes of the machine are designated respectively 10 and .12, vertical supporting elements being illustrated at 13, and diagonal braces at 14 and 15. A propeller 16 is carried by the shaft 17, and is adapted to be driven by a suitable motor (not shown).

Forward supporting wheels. or landing wheels, such as 20 are mounted on brackets or the like 21 and on transverse axial ele ment 22. A. rear landing wheel is designated 24, and is mounted in the fork 25 carried by the lower end of vertical shaft or standard 26. Extending rearwardly from the fork 25 is a vertical. rudder or vane 30, secured at the point 31, and a main vertii cal rudder is designated 32 and is carried by the stem 33, a portion of which is angular in cross section and is slidable vertically in angular bore 34 in shaft 26. Shaft 26 is slidable vertically inboxing 35 and is provided with annular flanged devicesSG, providing arack for engagement by the teeth of rotatable element 37 mounted on shaft 38. This element 37 includes radialarms 39 and 44), each carrying a cross bar such as etl or 42 by means of which rotatable element or gear wheel 3? is controlled, the controlling wires being referred to below. Angular movement of gear wheel 37 produces the vertical movement of shaft 36 with reference to the main structure of the machine, and therefore varies the relative position of landing wheel 2st with reference to the body portion.

A downwardly extending element 4-4; in the rear of fork 25 mounts a shoe 46 held. in part by braces 47 and serving to protect the vane or rudder 30.

in Figure 3 the controlling mechanism for effecting the change in elevation, just described, is designated in general by the letter A. this mechanism including cross bar 4-1 with which wires 49 and 50 are connected. The Wires are further connected with each other at point 51, passing through apertured end portions 52 of bar 53 acting Fax T56, and toothed wheel as a spacing device. trolling wire 54 extends forwardly and is wound around pulley 55 on horizontal able bar 58 carried by lever 59 forming an important element of controlling mechanism A. Element 58 is normally held out of engaging position by a spring 60, and this element 58 operates through the upper forked end of lever 59, the ends of the fork at 62 being rotatable with reference to shaft 57 being also rotatable on shaft 56.

In order to lock wheel 57, I provide a lever 63 fulcrumed on shaft 56 and having pivotally connected therewith a bar (34 shown in Figure 10, this bar having pivotal connection at 65 with dogs 66 pivoted to bar 67. The dogs 66 operate in reverse relation'and both are thrown out in changing,

the adjustmentof wheel 57.

In order to rotate shaft 26 on its vertical axis and change the angular position of the vane 30 and the landing wheel 24, I mount the cross bar 70 on this shaft 26, the bar forming a part of the controlling mechanism indicated generally by the letter B. Connected with bar 70 are wires 71 and 72 extending forwardly and around grooved wheel 72 mounted on sleeve '73 carried by horizontal shaft 56. Rigid with reference to the wheel is an operating lever 74 forming a part of the mechanism B and this lever and the wheel are held in an adjusted position by means of bar or lock 75 pivoted at 76 on lever 74 and held in locking position by spring 77. The lower end of bar 75 engages a toothed rack 77, and retains the lever 74 in an adjusted position.

A horizontal rudder is designated 80 and is rigid with reference to a horizontal shaft s-l. rigidly mounting a central vertical arm 82, the opposite ends of which are connected byw-ircs 83 and S4 with pulley wheel 85 loosely mounted on shaft 56. This wheel is controlled by the mechanism designated generally by the letter C in Figure 8 and including lever 86 operating and retained in a manner similar to that described in connection with lever 74. It will be understood that wires 83 and 84 pass respectively over the upper and lower sides of wheel 85.

Shaft 81 mounting vertical bar 82 is also connected by means of radial arms such as 88 with cords or the like 89 and 90 wound in reverse relation on shaft 91 rigidly mounting a grooved wheel 92. This wheel 92 carried in bearings 93 controls the cord or principal element 94-. which passes over pulleys 95 and 96 in vertical stationary element 97 and is connected with the horizontal plane on the upper and lower sides thereof, as shown at 93 and 99. In Figure 4 guiding From point 51 a con-,

elements for certain of the wires are shown at 101 and 102, and these devices, or similar devices are employed wherever necessary. Figure 6 shows several similar guiding rollers.

The purpose of the various controlling devices has been fully disclosed in connection with the descri )tion of the construction, and no further re erencc to operation appears to be necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a device of the class described, a

body portion, planes mounted thereon. propelling mechanism, a vertical shaft mounted for rotatable and vertical movement. a stem rotatable with the shaft, and slidably vertical with reference thereto, rudders carried by the shaft and by the stem. and controlling means for shifting the rudders simultaneously.

2. In a device of the class described. a body portion, planes mounted thereon, propelling mechanism, a vertical shaft mounted for rotatable and vertical movement, a stem rotatable with the shaft, and slidably vertical with reference thereto, rudders carried by the shaft and by the stem, controlling means for shifting the rudders simultaneously, and an additional rudder at an angle with those first named.

3. In a device of the class described, a body portion. planes mounted thereon, propelling mechanism, a vertical shaft mounted trolling means for the rudder, a second rud v der at an angle with that first named, means controlling the second rudder, and means controlling the vertical position of the shaft.

4. In a device of the class described, a body portion, planes mounted thereon, propelling mechanism, a vertical shaft mounted for rotatable and vertical movement, a landing wheel mounted on the shaft, a vertically disposed rudder rotated by the shaft, con trolling means for the rudder, a second rudder at an angle with that first named, means controlling the second rudder, means controlling the vertical position of the shaft, a vertical stem with reference to which the shaft is movable vertically, the stem and shaft being rotatable together, and a rudder carried by the stem.

5. In rudder mechanism for aeroplanes, a vertically mounted shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a rudder operated by the shaft, engaging devices on the shaft, a. toothed element meshing with the engaging devices for elevating the shaft, means for rotating this element, and landing means carried by the shaft.

6. In rudder mechanism for aeroplanes, a vertically mounted shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a rudder operated by the shaft, engagingtdevices on the shaft, a toothed element meshing with the engaging devices for elevating the shaft, means for rotating thiselement, landin means carried by the shaft, and devices means last named.

7. In rudder mechanism for aero lanes,

or looking the a vertically mounted shaft, means or roelement meshingwith the en tating the shaft, a rudder operated by the shaft, engaging devices on the shaft, a toothed element meshing with the engaging devices for elevating the shaft, means for rotating this element, landing means carried by the shaft, and a second rudder moved by the shaft, the rudders being positioned in a ng devices shaft, and a rudder movable about a horizontal axis between the rudders first named.

9. In rudder mechanism for aero lanes, a vertically mounted shaft, means or rotating the shaft, rudders operated by the shaft, engaging devices on the shaft, a toothed element meshing with the engaging devices for elevating the shaft, means for rotating this elenient, landing means carried by the shaft, a rudder movable about a horizontal axis between the rudders first named,

operating devices connected with the forward and rear ends of the rudder movable about a horizontal axis.

10. In rudder mechanism for aeroplanes, a vertically mounted shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a rudder operated by the shaft, annular engaging devices on the shaft, a device having a segmental toothed portion engaging the annular devices on the shaft,

means for rotating the device last named,

and landing means carried b the shaft.

In testimony whereof I a mv signature.

FRANK MoELI-IANEY. 

